Meditation

09/01/2020

“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same functions, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us if a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If I is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” (Daniel9:24–27)

The church forms the body of Christ. The body serves as a beautiful picture of the life of he church. An individual’s body has many parts serving various functions. The church consists of people serving Christ in many ways according to the different gifts Christ has given. The church as the body of Christ emphasizes the diversity of gifts which come together to serve one purpose.

As members of Christ’s church, we must lone one another as we love ourselves. The emphasis is not on uniformity but on a diversity which Christ brings together and uses for His purpose. The unity of the church results not from everyone thinking alike but from Christ bringing the various parts together in service to Him.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, give us peace of mind and clarity of thought towards our relationship with You. What we all need to focus our time on is developing our relationship with You, by serving our fellow human beings. Your are our Creator and it is our responsibility of taking the gifts that we have been given, and put them to use on behalf of the church’s ministries, to help serve our communities, schools, and other civic opportunities that help those in need all around us. This we pray in Jesus’ precious name. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“All that I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator in all that I have not seen.”

KNOWING GOD:

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the lord. For the husband is the head of he wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ love the church and gave himself up for her, to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In the say way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” (Ephesians5:23-24)

We have seen a trend in families, whereby the man takes his responsibilities selectively and not as the head of the family. What is outlined here in Ephesians, is one of responsibilities and accountability, that in all truth, has changed in many families and because this is so, the family unit has suffered tremendously.

As ordained clergy, I get the opportunity to work with lots of couples, many of which require pre-marital counseling, some more than others. Most of what I talk to couples about, are straight out of God’s word: “Wives, submit to your husband.” or “Husbands love your wives,” To be equally yoked means that both persons know and agree with their responsibilities and adhere to them daily in their lives. It is not a one way relationship, rather it is a shared relationship including our Lord!

I AM:

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, ‘The two will become one flesh. But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.”(!st Corinthians 6:15-17)

Sexual union is God’s plan to create physical and emotional unity in the marriage relationship. Such unity is the foundation of the family. Participation in such union outside the marriage commitment destroys family and betrays our commitment to Christ. To whose body we belong and to whom we are united in spiritual union as His individual to be satisfied the easiest way possible. Sexual activity is demonstration of commitment and unity within the family.

Second Thought of the Day:

“Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” (Colossians3:15)

The doctrine of Jesus’ resurrection determine the principles needed for the practice of Christianity. Those who have put to death the greed and evil desires of he flesh to arise in the newness of holy living with Jesus Christ, have come to understand the principles of holy living.

God’s people are bound to each other by the virtues of love, forgiveness, unity, compassion, kindness, humility of Jesus Christ, for the glory and honor of God. In Christ, the church seeks to bring wholeness and peaceful acceptance of Others. Disputes and fights should never characterize the body of the Prince of Peace. I pray this is clear to all.